We know our providers and staff have big, generous hearts. That is particularly true during the holiday season. Here are a few examples of ways our clinics are giving back to local children and families in need.
Duke Children’s Specialty Services (Raleigh/Cary) sponsored a family with three children via Passage Home, a non-profit whose mission is to break the cycle of poverty in the communities they serve. The clinic raised $150 to buy gifts for parents and the children for Christmas. In collaboration with their clinic partners, WakeMed Children’s Specialty, they also collected non-perishable food and hygiene items to support the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. In their fourth year of participation, they hope to collect more than 200 pounds of food, which will be delivered on December 23.
Duke Children's Primary Care (Durham), compiled more than 120 “Blessing Bags," an annual effort to support homeless and needy families during the holiday season. Staff packaged items like toothbrushes, gum, hand sanitizer, lotions, socks, and water into plastic zip bags. These bags were distributed by the staff throughout the community.
Duke Eye Center—Winston Salem coordinated with social workers to identify families struggling with illness, who could benefit from extra help buying Christmas gifts for their families. Largely led by Kindal Johnson, the clinic’s COA, this effort involved identifying, purchasing, and delivering a list of needed items to the hospital social worker. This year's delivery was made on December 19.
Because of the employees at Harris & Smith Ob/Gyn (Durham), a single-parent family with four children under the age of 12 will have a wonderful Christmas. The clinic collected gifts for the family and delivered them to the Salvation Army on December 7th.
During Thanksgiving, Duke Vascular Surgery—Brier Creek (Raleigh), collected canned and other non-perishable goods for the Durham Rescue Mission, and adopted a local Durham Family to support this Christmas. They are collecting clothing, shoes, toys and or taking monetary contributions to benefit the family.
Duke Executive Health and Signature Care (Durham), participated in The Tree of Bikes—a non-profit effort designed to collect bikes for local children—donating a bike, helmet, and cash to the cause.
RN of Cardiology, Ed Hammit, of the Duke Health Center—Southpoint (Durham), led efforts to raise money at Thanksgiving to provide meals at the Durham Rescue Mission. The clinic’s efforts resulted in a Thanksgiving meal for 372 people
Duke Gastroenterology—Raleigh, worked with Duke Children's Hospital to adopt a family to share with over the holiday season. They provided gifts to a family who had recently lost a loved one and had fallen on difficult times. Their efforts enabled them to cover all the wish list items and some extra surprises to brighten their holiday.
Carolina Family Practice & Sports Medicine (Cary/Raleigh/Holly Springs) donated more than $650 to the continued recovery effort of Hurricane Matthew victims via the NC Baptist Ministry/Baptists on Mission. This follows annual charitable efforts in which clinic staff contribute $1 to charity for wearing jeans on a designated day of the week.
A team of DHIP nurse leaders collected toys and non-perishable food items for the Durham Rescue Mission, and delivered them on Dec. 20.
The Brier Creek Medical Pavilion (Raleigh), a member of the Duke Urogynecology (Durham), and the DHIP’s administration, among others, aided Duke’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) by providing holiday comforts to its patients and their families. Items donated ranged from toys and clothing for infants and premature babies, to gift cards and cosmetics for teens. Items were delivered to Duke’s NICU on Dec.16.
It is with pride that we thank our amazing clinic staff and physicians for all of their efforts in the community. They are tremendous stewards to the core of the DHIP’s and Duke’s values and we celebrate their tremendous efforts.
See additional photos of these efforts submitted by our clinics.
